Chapter 2

Sleep Over!

As they walked down the street, Toboe skipping ahead, Hige pointed to himself. "Hey. And maybe you could stay at my house tomorrow." He grinned. Kiba knew he only wanted to ask him questions, but nodded anyway. His gaze drifted to Tsume, who was walking his motorbike, who scoffed again.

When they reached Toboe's house, Tsume hopped on his bike. "Well. I guess you kids don't need me anymore. I'll be leaving. See ya twerps." And he was gone in a puff of smoke. "I really don't like that guy." Hige glared after the tail lights. Kiba smiled solemnly. "What?" Hige asked. "Nothing. It's just... you said that before too..." Kiba looked up at the darkening sky. "You should go home." "But how will you know where to find me? You don't know my address." "I'll find you.. sooner or later." Kiba lowered his gaze to the door, where Toboe was coming out.

"She said it's ok with her. Hige...where are you going?" "Home." "Oh. right. Well. Come on in Kiba." Toboe opened the door to the small apartment. Kiba smiled a thank you and walked in. In Toboe's house there were a lot of plants. Pots lined a few walls and there were a lot of dog and cats around. The cats didn't seem to mind Kiba at all, nor did the dogs. One dog was about to growl at him when Kiba looked down at him and the dog shut up. It was like Kiba's eyes calmed it. It let it's tongue loll and looked really happy to seem them.

"Well well well...You must be Toboe's new friend." Granny welcomed him. "Yes. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Kiba bent his head forward like a small bow. "So polite." Granny smiled and turned around. "Dinner will be ready soon. Toboe.. get your friend settled." Toboe stood straight like an army guard. "Yes ma 'am." he saluted and then pranced off into another room, leaving Kiba to stand alone in the entrance hall.

He walked slowly over to the kitchen door and looked inside. This room was like the front room in decor. It had pot lined walls and a plant in the corner. This kitchen looked quite clean and updated. Kiba hadn't really seen the inside of a good house yet so he was basically fascinated. "Well, you must be a hungry little one." Granny said over her shoulder. "Does Toboe know yet?" Kiba didn't understand. What was she talking about?

Granny walked over and put a hand on Kiba's head. She had bent down a bit to do it. Kiba noticed that when she pet him, he was a wolf. He flinched backwards. How'd she do that? "I didn't think so. I keep having a dream where Toboe's just like you. I never thought it might be real." She sighed and turned around again. "I just hope he doesn't leave. He such a sweet boy." Kiba was 'human' again, eyes wide. "Your welcome to explore the house. Go find Toboe in the back." She ordered softly. Kiba turned and walked away faster than he'd snuck up.

Kiba turned into the room Toboe had disappeared into. It must've been the living room. It had a couch, TV, and pictures. He was sure there was even a game system. But he had never seen a real one so he wasn't sure. He walked in and stood in front of the couch. He took a deep breath. The house smelled nice. Like honey or something sweet like it. This room was completely blocked off from the kitchen and had a smell all it's own.

Kiba opened the side door, to the dining room, and was blasted with the smell of Spaghetti. But he'd never had that either so he quickly closed the door. He hadn't been prepared for the sudden rush of smells. He shook his head and went the other way.

He went down the hallway, hands in his jacket, and glanced in each room. He saw the bathroom, a shiny white room he'd avoid unless necessary; Granny's room, looked nice and comfy and he had to resist the urge to jump up and sleep there; and Toboe's room, a fun looking room with white walls and maroon floors. His bed had red sheets and nice red pillows. True blue to his fur, Kiba thought happily. It had a toy chest and the room wasn't exactly neat.

"Kiba?" Toboe appeared out of the last room. Startled a little, Kiba spun around to look at him. "Toboe. What is it?" Toboe smiled. "Nothing." He was carrying blue sheets and pillows. "Blue?" Toboe asked. "Yeah sure." Kiba watched him set them up in the living room, then go and bring his own out. "Your going to sleep in there with me?" Kiba asked. "Yep. It's a sleep over. It would be lonely by yourself." About ten minutes later, Kiba was sitting on a bed Toboe had made him. It was on the couch. Which was apparently... 'Pull Out'.

Toboe bounded out of his room and onto his own side of the bed. "Yay!" Kiba was glad Toboe was allowed to be this carefree and happy. "Wanna watch a movie?" "Movie?" "Wow. You really haven't had a home..." Kiba looked like he wasn't sure whether to be sad or happy. "Ok.. anyway. Wanna watch Aladdin?" "That's the movie?" "Yep." "Sure." Toboe popped it into the player and laid back. Kiba was already laying in a comfortable position.

Granny came in and served dinner around the beginning. Kiba had to get used to this eating with utensils thing.

Near the end of the movie, Toboe had inched his way over to Kiba and was holding his arm. Kiba really didn't notice, or he didn't care. When the credits started rolling Kiba looked at his arm, which had gone numb. "Toboe?" The pup had fallen asleep on Kiba's arm. Kiba didn't know about movies. What was he supposed to do? He guessed that it was over.

About to start panicking, Granny walked out and pushed the stop button. "It's late. You should get some sleep." She said and Kiba just stared at her. "Your really a rather beautiful animal." Kiba's eyes flashed hatred until he came to it that it was supposed to be a compliment and they quickly softened. "Thank You." he said. "Your welcome. Now sleep." and she shut the lights off. When she was gone, Kiba went back to his wolf form and pulled his front leg from Toboe's grip before he went to his human form again. He'd never had to sleep in it before. He rolled over and fell asleep, facing away from Toboe.

Toboe jumped up happily to catch some meat Hige had thrown him. He landed on all fours and ate happily. Tsume and Kiba ate in human form while Hige and Toboe played with their food.

"Children." Tsume scoffed, but he had a looked of revere on his face. Kiba was with his friends, Hige, Toboe, and Tsume, in a field of Lunar flowers. This was truly paradise. Wolves were all around the place, eating, playing, and sleeping. Homes had already been here. Some chose to look like humans sometimes. Sometimes it would almost seem like a human mother was talking to her pet when a mother wolf walked out of the house in human form.

Kiba noticed Blue walking up. She was in human form. Upon seeing her, Hige also became human. "Hey! Blue!" He called. She came up with something in her arms. "You know you shouldn't be out." Hige scolded. "What's that?" Kiba asked, indicating the thing Blue carried.

"Kiba. You forgot?" Blue pulled back the cloth to reveal puppies. Kiba's eyes grew wider than usual. "Ya. Remember? Me and Blue settled down months ago!" Hige said. "Now You should be home." He said to Blue and started leading her home. "But Hige! I want to walk around." "Hey.." They were out of earshot.

"Leera!" Toboe jumped up in human form again to greet the brown headed girl. Who was Leera? "Hey Toboe! I brought you some sausages! Wanna go get ice cream?" "Sure!" This world was paradise. It had wolves and families. It was like the humans. Ice cream, food, friends. But something wasn't right. As Toboe and Leera walked off, another wolf Kiba did not know walked up to Tsume. She whispered something in his ear, he went slightly wide eyed and they both ran off laughing slightly.

Kiba was now alone on the hill. He looked around. Where was Cheza? And then he remembered. Cheza died. Cheza wasn't here. This was paradise? No. He knew. Darcia's eye had tainted paradise. It... Paradise had humans didn't it? That Leera girl was a human.. but that was it. Where was he? This wasn't paradise. Someone put a hand on his shoulder and he turned.

This was the girl from his illusion world. The other creature. She wasn't a wolf, but while he was there, he'd always been with her. He'd forgotten everything and almost loved her. Almost.. But now she was here like it had never happened. "Kiba." she said plainly.

"Your an illusion." Kiba said disbelievingly. "I'm here Kiba." This wasn't right. This wasn't paradise. Paradise hadn't been opened. It had all gone wrong! His friends had died and he had been left alone to battle the new world. The only one with the memory of it. "No." Kiba backed off from her. "No?" She asked. "No." Kiba repeated, running off through the fake paradise. "No." He said again as the world began to crumble.

"No what Kiba? What's wrong?" Someone was talking to him. Who? "Kiba. Wake up. It's just a nightmare." A different person. "Kiba.. wake up." Someone shook him and his eyes popped open. Toboe looked scared and Granny smiled. "Welcome back." she greeted.

"Where am I?" "At a sleep over. Remember?" Kiba relaxed. It was all a dream. A dream gone nightmare. If this is what happened on Sleepovers. maybe he should cancel with Hige... No.. he would stand dreams if he could see them all together.

"Are you ok Kiba?" Toboe asked. "Fine.." "Are you sure? You looked really scared..." "I'm fine.." He was scared. A dream that made him feel alone again. Remembering the deaths of all his friends. That was scary.

"I'm hungry." Kiba finally said. "Good.. breakfast is served." "Cereal." Toboe said, pointing to the table. Kiba sat at the dinning table next to Toboe. While they ate Toboe got around to what Kiba knew they all wanted. Questions and Answers.

"Kiba. What was I like?" "No different than you are now.. well.. not really. You had to constantly follow us through harsh times so you were a little tougher. In the end you wouldn't let us help you up or anything. You said you could kill your own meals and walk on ice by yourself. You were brave all the way up till..." Kiba suddenly lost his voice. "The world is reborn. I alone am surviving with memories of a world gone by. It doesn't matter." He finished.

Toboe stared at Kiba with sad eyes. He'd obviously hit a sore spot. He didn't as anything else. "You were the glue, kid." Toboe looked up at him. "You convinced us to stay together. You were a little thick sometimes, and complained when we hadn't eaten in 3 days... But you got through it. One time Tsume actually got hungry with you guys and said we could eat you and Hige if worse came to worse." "Hey. Why not you?" Kiba almost laughed. At the time, he'd not found it so funny. "You asked Tsume the exact same question. 'Why isn't Kiba on the list?' His answer... we weren't real friends at the time... 'Because the guy's totally full of crap. That's why.' Me and my talk of paradise.." Kiba continued said in his wisdom voice. He picked up his bowl and drank the milk from it. There was no more talking until he was leaving.

"I'll come visit again. Maybe we can all get together again.." Kiba waved. Toboe waved but then ran up and gave him a hug. "I hope I see you again." He said, backing off. "Don't worry. Now that I've found you guys again. I won't try to leave." Kiba ruffled the boy's hair and walked off down the street. "Tell Granny I said good bye!" He waved over his shoulder. "I will!" Toboe watched until he couldn't see Kiba anymore.